Alpha Centauri 2

Community => Recreation Commons => Destination: Alpha Centauri => Topic started by: Buster's Uncle on March 13, 2023, 10:07:14 PM

Title: Iffy weather expected Tuesday for SpaceX's next ISS cargo resupply mission
Post by: Buster's Uncle on March 13, 2023, 10:07:14 PM

Iffy weather expected Tuesday for SpaceX's next ISS cargo resupply mission
Jamie Groh,  Mon, March 13, 2023 at 12:36 PM EDT
Florida Today (https://www.floridatoday.com/)


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Unfavorable weather conditions could pose problems Tuesday for SpaceX's next launch from Kennedy Space Center.

Set for liftoff at 8:30 p.m. EDT, a Falcon 9 rocket and uncrewed Dragon cargo capsule could contend with cloudy conditions and strong upper-level winds high above pad 39A. Space Force forecasters on Monday predicted a 50% chance of "go" conditions for SpaceX's 27th contracted cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station, also known as CRS-27, for NASA.

"An upper-level disturbance moving across the Gulf of Mexico will bring enhanced mid and upper-level cloud cover Tuesday afternoon and evening," Space Launch Delta 45 forecasters said in a report on Monday. "This will pose a thick cloud layer rule concern for the primary launch window Tuesday."

Post-launch conditions, including upper-level winds, could be problematic for the Falcon 9 first-stage booster's somersault and return trip for an attempted landing aboard a drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. After liftoff, Falcon 9 will fly a northeastern trajectory.

SpaceX has an instantaneous launch window Tuesday, meaning that Falcon 9 must liftoff exactly on time or delay to another day. If a delay is necessary, forecasters expect "favorable weather for the backup window Wednesday evening," with conditions predicted to improve to 95% "go" around the same time, pending approval from NASA and Space Launch Delta 45.


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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the company’s Dragon cargo spacecraft atop, is raised to a vertical position at NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in preparation for a commercial resupply services launch to the International Space Station.


The Dragon capsule is packed with science investigations and experiments and thousands of pounds of supplies and cargo for the international crew members living aboard the orbiting laboratory, including the four members of SpaceX's Crew-6 mission that arrived earlier this month.

One of the included investigations, aimed at testing 3D-printed components in space, is from L3Harris. It will test the capabilities of a 3D-printed radio circuit designed by the Melbourne-based aerospace and defense company. The components could be used to inform future in-space production of satellites to help make spacecraft manufacturing more efficient and affordable.


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The Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) Flight Facility on the exterior of the space station exposes materials to the harsh environment of space.


“We’re excited to test the 3D printed materials for six months and compare the new results with previous ISS experiments and ground tests,” Arthur Paolella, senior scientist and technical fellow with L3Harris, said in a press release.

If Dragon does launch as planned on Tuesday, it should meet up with the space station for an autonomous docking at 7:07 a.m. EDT Wednesday, March 15. It's expected to stay docked there for about a month before returning for splashdown.

Look for FLORIDA TODAY's live coverage of the CRS-27 mission to begin 90 minutes before liftoff at https://www.floridatoday.com/space/.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/iffy-weather-expected-tuesday-spacexs-163623509.html